Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.

Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.

Don't show me this message again

Whistling Rufus

Introduction

Frederick Allen Mills (1869–1948), who composed under the name of ‘Kerry Mills’, was born in Philadelphia and, as a young man, taught violin at the University of Michigan. He formed his own publishing company, F A Mills, and composed minstrel songs and other numbers such as the enduring Meet me in St Louis, Louis (1904). However, his most distinctive contribution to popular music came with his jaunty, lightly syncopated ‘characteristic marches’, composed during the 1890s to satisfy the craze for the cakewalk, a forerunner of ragtime. His first such success was with Rastus on Parade (1895) which was followed most notably by At a Georgia Camp Meeting (1897) and Whistling Rufus (1899). This last is heard here in an orchestral version by Sidney Crooke.

Recordings

'These lovely old tunes have a freshness and charm akin to the best light-hearted literature or illustration from the same period. A splendid successo ...'These guys can take on the Boston Pops any day!' (Classic FM)» More